Eventing could be termed an "equestrian triathlon." It involves working with a horse
both on the flat and over fences. The three phases are: dressage, endurance (or
cross-country), and show jumping. Over the centuries it has developed from the test
of the ideal military charger. Eventing has now evolved into an exciting sport
attracting interest from all levels of sports enthusiasts, from weekend hobby riders to
professional international stars.
With its variation in levels and difficulty and wide range of competitions available all
across the country, Eventing is a sport which provides competitive and recreational
opportunities for people of all ages and backgrounds. Today, the sport is most
known for its cross-country phase where horse and rider gallop over an outside
course of solid obstacles which the horse has never seen before. At the uppermost
level of competition, Olympic or World Championship, the cross-country phase is the
phase that appeals most to spectators and riders alike. It is the ultimate challenge to
prepare a horse for this rigorous test. Unlike other sports, where only the human will
and body are pitted against the clock, in eventing, two minds and bodies have to
work as one. As an additional attraction, eventing is the only high-risk Olympic sport
that permits men and women to compete as equals. There are no separate divisions
and some of the top riders in the world today are women from many nations.
In both the 1976 and 1984 Olympic Games, the U.S. Three-Day team won gold
medals, as well as individual gold and silver. At the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games,
the U.S. Three-Day team won the silver medal and Kerry Millikin of Massachusetts
won the individual bronze medal. At the 1999 Pan-American Games, held in
Winnipeg, the United States won the team gold medal, and the individual silver and
bronze medals. In Sydney in 2000, with an Olympic record-breaking score, David
O'Connor won the individual gold medal. Team USA, headed by the husband and
wife team, David and Karen O'Connor, Nina Fout, and Linden Wiesman won the
bronze medal, confirming the United States' position as one of the top eventing
countries in the world.
In 2004, the Olympic Games went to the short format for the first time. While many
were extremely disappointed to see the long-format disappear at the Olympic
Games, there is no doubt that the competition provided some of the best equestrian
sport ever. Our own Kim Severson and Winsome Adante clinched the silver medal
for the U.S. and our team of Darren Chiacchia, Julie Richards, Kim Severson, Amy
Tryon, and John Williams took the bronze.
In addition to the Olympic and Pan American Games, a World Championship is held
every four years. Bruce Davidson from Unionville Pennsylvania won back-to-back
world titles in 1974 and 1978-a feat that has not yet been repeated. Davidson added
the bronze medal to his collection at the 1990 World Three-Day Event
Championship in Stockholm, Sweden. Dorothy Crowell of Lexington, Kentucky
followed in Davidson's footsteps, cinching the world silver medal at The Hague in
Holland in 1994. In 1998 the U.S. Team won the bronze medal at the World
Three-Day Event Championship in Pratoni, Italy. At the 2002 World Equestrian
Games in Jerez, Spain, the U.S. Eventing Squad of David O'Connor, John Williams,
Amy Tryon and Kim Severson captured the elite team gold medal; while Darren
Chiacchia and Gina Miles each put in impressive individual performances. At the
World Equestrian Games In Aachen, 2006, our U.S. team of Will Faudree, Kim
Severson, Amy Tryon and Heidi White just missed the bronze medal by 0.8
penalties, Amy Tryon and Poggio II jumped impressively across country and in the
show jumping to take the individual bronze medal.
The sport, however, is not limited to the international levels. It draws from a wide
range of riders both in age and geography. We can boast of 75 year old riders
competing in preliminary three-day events to youngsters of 10 and 11 at the entry
level. J. Michael Plumb, a "middle-aged" rider, who continues to compete at the
highest levels of the sport, has represented the United States at eight Olympic
Games (including the 1980 Alternate Olympics). In fact, since the more experienced
riders are frequently training young horses at the lower levels, our young (and older)
riders often have the challenge of competing against an Olympian-they sometimes
even beat them!
The members of the USEA are a fiercely loyal and dedicated group of people, true
horseman. We are proud of their training and hard work, for at every level, including
the entry level, our competitions provide a challenging test of discipline, ability and
sportsmanship.
For additional information on the USEA or our calendar of events, please contact the
USEA office:
United States Eventing Association, Inc.
525 Old Waterford Road NW
Leesburg, Virginia 20176
Phone: 703-779-0440
Fax: 703-779-0550
e-mail: info@useventing.com
both on the flat and over fences. The three phases are: dressage, endurance (or
cross-country), and show jumping. Over the centuries it has developed from the test
of the ideal military charger. Eventing has now evolved into an exciting sport
attracting interest from all levels of sports enthusiasts, from weekend hobby riders to
professional international stars.
With its variation in levels and difficulty and wide range of competitions available all
across the country, Eventing is a sport which provides competitive and recreational
opportunities for people of all ages and backgrounds. Today, the sport is most
known for its cross-country phase where horse and rider gallop over an outside
course of solid obstacles which the horse has never seen before. At the uppermost
level of competition, Olympic or World Championship, the cross-country phase is the
phase that appeals most to spectators and riders alike. It is the ultimate challenge to
prepare a horse for this rigorous test. Unlike other sports, where only the human will
and body are pitted against the clock, in eventing, two minds and bodies have to
work as one. As an additional attraction, eventing is the only high-risk Olympic sport
that permits men and women to compete as equals. There are no separate divisions
and some of the top riders in the world today are women from many nations.
In both the 1976 and 1984 Olympic Games, the U.S. Three-Day team won gold
medals, as well as individual gold and silver. At the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games,
the U.S. Three-Day team won the silver medal and Kerry Millikin of Massachusetts
won the individual bronze medal. At the 1999 Pan-American Games, held in
Winnipeg, the United States won the team gold medal, and the individual silver and
bronze medals. In Sydney in 2000, with an Olympic record-breaking score, David
O'Connor won the individual gold medal. Team USA, headed by the husband and
wife team, David and Karen O'Connor, Nina Fout, and Linden Wiesman won the
bronze medal, confirming the United States' position as one of the top eventing
countries in the world.
In 2004, the Olympic Games went to the short format for the first time. While many
were extremely disappointed to see the long-format disappear at the Olympic
Games, there is no doubt that the competition provided some of the best equestrian
sport ever. Our own Kim Severson and Winsome Adante clinched the silver medal
for the U.S. and our team of Darren Chiacchia, Julie Richards, Kim Severson, Amy
Tryon, and John Williams took the bronze.
In addition to the Olympic and Pan American Games, a World Championship is held
every four years. Bruce Davidson from Unionville Pennsylvania won back-to-back
world titles in 1974 and 1978-a feat that has not yet been repeated. Davidson added
the bronze medal to his collection at the 1990 World Three-Day Event
Championship in Stockholm, Sweden. Dorothy Crowell of Lexington, Kentucky
followed in Davidson's footsteps, cinching the world silver medal at The Hague in
Holland in 1994. In 1998 the U.S. Team won the bronze medal at the World
Three-Day Event Championship in Pratoni, Italy. At the 2002 World Equestrian
Games in Jerez, Spain, the U.S. Eventing Squad of David O'Connor, John Williams,
Amy Tryon and Kim Severson captured the elite team gold medal; while Darren
Chiacchia and Gina Miles each put in impressive individual performances. At the
World Equestrian Games In Aachen, 2006, our U.S. team of Will Faudree, Kim
Severson, Amy Tryon and Heidi White just missed the bronze medal by 0.8
penalties, Amy Tryon and Poggio II jumped impressively across country and in the
show jumping to take the individual bronze medal.
The sport, however, is not limited to the international levels. It draws from a wide
range of riders both in age and geography. We can boast of 75 year old riders
competing in preliminary three-day events to youngsters of 10 and 11 at the entry
level. J. Michael Plumb, a "middle-aged" rider, who continues to compete at the
highest levels of the sport, has represented the United States at eight Olympic
Games (including the 1980 Alternate Olympics). In fact, since the more experienced
riders are frequently training young horses at the lower levels, our young (and older)
riders often have the challenge of competing against an Olympian-they sometimes
even beat them!
The members of the USEA are a fiercely loyal and dedicated group of people, true
horseman. We are proud of their training and hard work, for at every level, including
the entry level, our competitions provide a challenging test of discipline, ability and
sportsmanship.
For additional information on the USEA or our calendar of events, please contact the
USEA office:
United States Eventing Association, Inc.
525 Old Waterford Road NW
Leesburg, Virginia 20176
Phone: 703-779-0440
Fax: 703-779-0550
e-mail: info@useventing.com
What is Eventing? |
| Dressage |
| Show Jumping |
| Endurance (Cross-Country) |
| All Photo's on this page by Kelly Coultas Photography |